To Know Me Is To Love Me…Anyway

This photo was taken about 30 years ago when Brian and I were dating! I met Brian when I was in my sophomore year of college. He was a handsome seminary student and he was everything I had ever dreamed of: godly, compassionate, loyal, romantic, handsome, athletic, he loved people, and he was called to career ministry.

Yes. He was everything I had dreamed of and I was sure that he would never take a second look at me!

One fall evening after an event, we ended up spending some time talking in the parking lot that was next to my dorm. I was sitting on the hood of his car when he told me that he was interested in dating me. I was so shocked that I literally almost fell off of the hood of his car and onto the concrete! 2 years later we were married. It truly was a dream come true!

I could not wrap my brain around the fact that a man like Brian would actually pursue a woman like me! There were times when I feared that once he really got to know me he wouldn’t want to be with me anymore. Thankfully, that didn’t happen! We’ve been together for over 30 years and he still loves me! And I am still amazed that he chose me.

Today I spent some time reading about how God pursues his people. When I stop and think about this truth I feel very much the same as I did when Brian began pursuing me. Knowing my sinful heart the way that I do, I cannot wrap my brain around the fact that the God of the universe would actually pursue someone like me.

He knows me. He sees me at my worst. He pursues me anyway.

God knows me – He’s always known me, known my heart, known me better than I know myself, and has been pursuing me since before I was born.

“You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb…You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.” Psalm 139:13, 15-16

“O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord.” Psalm 139: 1-4

“My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth.” Psalm 139:15

He sees me at my very worst and at my very best. He is always with me.

“I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there.”

He knows me and pursues me. He wants a relationship with me…and YOU! Yes! You read that correctly! He pursues me and he pursues YOU. Isn’t that incredible? We don’t need to understand it, we just need to believe it, accept it, and move forward into the life he promises we will find in him.

“Therefore behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her. And there I will give her her vineyards and make the Valley of Achor a door of hope.” Hosea 2: 14-15

“For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With His love, He will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” Zephaniah 3:17